FURNACES
OF THE HANGING ROCK IRON REGION LAWRENCE COUNTY, OHIO

Alice Furnace was named for the daughter of George Willard.
Blanche Furnace was named for Blanche McGovney. In the Spring of
1873, the company erected on the river bank, just above the city of
Ironton, two hot blast coke furnaces, the "Alice" and the "Blanche."
These furnaces are what is known as the Ferrie Patent Self-coking
Furnace. The number of fire brick used in their construction was one
million five hundred thousand, and of red brick, three million. Each
of these furnaces has a capacity of 75 tons of iron per day, when
confined to the ores of the Hanging Rock district; but if they were
fed with the Lake Superior or Iron Mountain ore, they would each
turn out 100 tons each day. They are among the very largest
establishments of the kind in the United States.

Ironton Register, February 28, 1878 - Etna's Alice is
cold. Between the financial embarrassment of the Etna Company and
the proposed reduction in the tariff, the prospects for an early
resumption of iron making in that quarter is anything but
encouraging. Ironton Register, February 28, 1878 - The Alice has
made over 30,000 tons pig, on present hearth - 20,000 tons being
made after it had been supposed the hearth was practically gone, and
in fact, after the iron had been breaking out through the walls.
Ironton Register, October 27, 1887 - Cam Peters fell about 30 feet,
from a scaffold at Alice Furnace, yesterday. No bones broken, but he
is laid up.

BLANCHE

Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1875
By: ETNA IRON WORKS

Blanche Furnace was named for Blanche McGovney who later married
Charles S. Gray, son of Col. George Noah Gray.

Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1867
By: BELFONT IRON WORKS

Ironton Register, February 28, 1878 - The Belfont Furnace
made last week, 325 tons pig, and did it on 49.8 bushels fuel per
ton of pig, using but one-fourth Iron Mountain ore. Where is the
furnace that can show a smaller quantity of fuel per ton of pig? The
average for several weeks will not exceed 52 bushels. They received
on last Monday, 100,000 bushels of coke.

Ironton Register, October 1, 1885 - Fire was started in
Belfont stack, last Tuesday, for the purpose of drying it out. The
stack has been entirely overhauled - new hearth, inwall and lining
complete. The hearth and top have been reduced a little but the bosh
remains the same. The furnace is now supposed to be in better fix
than ever before. It has also a new bell. The furnace will probably
start this Fall sometime. The company have about 18,000 tons of ore
at their mines, which they will work up, if business gets so they
can do it. They have no coke as yet.

Ironton Register, November 19, 1885 - Belfont furnace blew
in on Monday and made her first cast Tuesday morning - ten or twelve
tons of No. 2. Mr. Rodgers says she is working well.

Ironton Register, January 14, 1886 - Belfont Furnace is
now running on 30 per cent of Missouri Ore.

BELFONT NAIL MILL

By: Norton Brothers

Ironton Register, February 28, 1878 - The Belfont shut
down Saturday, for probably two weeks. The factory will run but two
weeks between this and April 1st; this under the combination
regulations. They have an ample stock, however, of nails, to meet
any order.

Ironton Register, April 4, 1878 - The Belfont nail mill is
in full operation now. By the arrangement agreed upon at the Nail
Manufacturer's meeting, at Pittsburgh, last week, there are only two
weeks' run this month.

BUCKHORN

From 1840-1843 (2 ½ years) John Peters, Sr., along with J. O.
Willard, leased Buckhorn Furnace. John Peters, Sr., was the manager.

Ironton Register, July 13, 1899 - The Buckhorn Furnace,
the property of McGugin & Co., Olive Furnace Post Office, Ohio, will
probably be started in the near future. It is some time since the
stack was operated. It is 38x10 and has a capacity of 8,000 tons
annually. The Olive Furnace of the same firm is in operation and
will run regularly. American Manufacturer.

CENTRE also spelled Center

Lawrence
County, Ohio
Built: 1836
By: WM. CARPENTER & OTHERS

Daily Ton: 16
Stack: 40 Feet
Blast:
Charcoal

William D. Kelly leased Centre Furnace from 1862-1867 and made
money. Another article stated that he bought Centre Furnace in 1862.
(need to verify)

Ironton Register, July 30, 1885 - (Country Notes) - Center
is quiet. There are only a few families living on the furnace
grounds. The men are working on the farm.
Richard Dovel is growing into a farmer. He stirs
late and early. He is now in the midst of his hay and oat harvest.
Lindsey Kelly spends part of his time out here, mostly at the
station, where the company is having some ore mined. They get about
a thousand tons a month. They ship now seven cars of burnt ore a day
to Etna Iron Works. J. R. Cook weighs the ore at the station, and
assists Mr. Kelly in the management of the work.
W. D. Corn says he has a good school at Centre. His brother Ed
is here attending school. W. D. makes things go. He puts Ed and some
of the boys through some extra lessons before school in the morning
and after dismissal in the evening. There is not a more energetic,
indefatigable, or thorough teacher in Lawrence county than W. D.
Corn.
We met W. B. G. Hatcher at Center. He is making a survey of the
Centre lands, for the purpose of making a topographical map of the
same. He has quite a good deal of work yet to do in the field - four
or six weeks - before he is ready for work on his map. Thomas
Harris, brother of Dave and Al., is assisting Mr. Hatcher, and
receiving instruction in practical surveying.

Ironton Register, August 17, 1899 - CENTER FURNACE - After
a long period of silence this furnace is to resume blast, and
preparations have been already begun. Mrs. Lindsey Kelly has leased
the property to a company composed of W. C. Amos, H. L. Amos, L. D.
Davis, Dr. O. Ellison, Dr. H. B. Justice and Wm. Laird, which
company is incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000. Of this
concern H. L. Amos will be President and Superintendent and L. D.
Davis, Secretary and Treasurer. The lease is for one year with the
privilege of five, and the rental is one ton of pig iron for every
15 tons produced.
Mrs. Kelly bought in this property at a trustee's sale in June,
1898, paying therefore $19,700. It will take the lessees until
December to get things ready for a blast, but this delay will be
occasioned by the slow process of charcoal production. The furnace
itself can be got ready for running in a short time. The store will
be opened right away. We are informed that some prominent iron men
are back of the enterprise.

ETNA

Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1832
By: JAMES RODGERS & OTHERS

In 1820 Joseph and Kitty Dollarhide Kelly moved their family to
this area where Etna Furnace was later built. In 1832 Joseph Kelly
sold this land to James Rodgers and others and built Etna Furnace.
Joseph Kelly going into the company.

William Dollarhide
Kelly, son of Joseph and Kitty Kelly, began his career as an
Iron Man when he became a member of the firm of Dempsey, Rodgers &
Co., proprietors of Etna Furnace in 1844.

Ironton Register, March 1, 1877 - (East End Items) -
Thomas G. Scott died at his residence, near Etna furnace, last
Saturday morning. The funeral services were conducted by the
Congregational Church on Monday, from which the remains were
attended to Woodland by one of the largest processions we have seen
pass out of Ironton. Mr. Scott has been associated with the iron
interests nearly all his life, and outside his large circle of
relatives his loss will be felt to its greatest extent at the Etna,
where he has managed the past year with remarkable success. (Same
Date) - Elwood Hussey's school closed at Etna, on last Friday. (Same
Date) - Mr. Burt, an experienced furnaceman from Milwaukee, takes
charge of the Etna Furnace. (Same Date) A barge with sixty tons of
iron which was dropped down to town from Etna, was sunk just below
the furnace, one day last week.

Lawrence
County, Ohio
Built: 1872
By:Ironton
Register, November 4, 1886 - Burned Down - The Etna house near
Alice Furnace was destroyed by fire last Friday night, at about ten
o'clock. The fire caught from a stove. There were seven families
living in the house, but they managed to get out all their property.
The blaze made by the fire was terrific. It reddened the entire
southern sky. The Etna house was built when Big Etna Furnace was
erected, and was used as a boarding house at first, and afterward as
a tenement house. It was insured for $3,000. It is the purpose of
the company to put up some smaller houses to accommodate their
employees.

Ironton Register, December 6, 1888 - BIG ETNA - BLANCHE
STACK IN BLAST, AND OTHER NOTES. - When the mammoth furnace of the
Etna Iron Works at the upper end of town, was erected in 1872, only
one of the twin stacks was completed. The Alice stacks was finished,
but Blanche was left un-lined, and incomplete - a mere iron tube of
ponderous size, with the bridge constructed at the top, and the
connections, &c., arranged for.
Blanche has now been lined, and workmen are filling the new
furnace with stock preparatory to putting on the blast today or
tomorrow. The work of lining has been going on for months. It has
cost about $23,000, including all necessary changes and additions,
and over 400,000 brick, including red and fire brick, have been
used. Meanwhile, Alice has been blown out and the engines and
Whitwell ovens used for that furnace have been connected with
Blanche. These changes were practically made some weeks ago, but the
starting of the furnace was delayed by the river water rising in the
well hole, so it was not possible to reach the pumps until last
week.
Mr. Pleumer, the President of the Company, whom the REGISTER
has interviewed on the subject, says he hopes to make 100 tons of
iron a day in the new stack, when she gets fairly started. Alice,
with the same outer dimensions as Blanche, made on an average about
74 or 5 tons in the last year of her run, but Blanche is new
throughout and has been lined after the most approved pattern, hence
the expected large increase. The most iron Alice ever made was a
very exceptional day's run, several years ago, of 104 tons of mill
iron.
Mr. Pleumer said also, that it is possible in the coming year,
that the other stack will be blown in. He has just returned from the
East, there he spent several weeks among his associates in the Etna
enterprise, and states that if he gets the assurance of Pres. F. J.
Kimball, of the Norfolk & Western road, that his projected line to
Ironton will be built to Ironton next Summer, and the rates of
freight will be such as there is every reason to expect, there is no
doubt that the Alice stack will be got in readiness to start at that
time. He is now in communication with Mr. Kimball on that subject,
and may learn his purpose in a month. If the Alice is started, it
will involve an expenditure of $50,000 or $60,000, as the stack must
be re-lined, and in order to run both stacks at once, additional hot
blast ovens would have to be built, and two more blowing engines
added. The operation of both stacks is simply a possibility of the
future, and an event which Mr. Pleumer thinks is sure to follow the
advent of the new road, that will furnish us such valuable access to
the coking and ore regions of Virginia.
In addition to the Blanche stack, now being started new, the
Etna Co.'s Sarah furnace just above, is being overhauled to put in
blast. It was expected to blow her out for that purpose as soon as
Blanche was started, but last week the bottom broke out. The
contemplated work is thus hastened. The lower part of the stack will
be re-lined, so the furnace will be ready to start again, it is
thought, by the first of the year.
Sarah's output is about 35 tons a day, which, if the
expectations regarding Blanche are realized, will make an output of
135 tons daily, and this means a consumption of 600 to 650 tons, or
40 to 45 car loads, of raw material at the two furnaces each day.
Blanche will run on half Missouri ore, of which Mr. Pleumer has just
purchased 12,000 tons for monthly delivery, and half native, with
New River and Connellsville coke. The Company has also about 20,000
tons of native ore, and 18,000 tons of limestone on hand.

Ironton Register, September 23, 1897 - Etna Furnace Sale -
Next Saturday at 10 a. m., the big Etna Furnace, in Ironton, will be
offered at public sale, on the premises by the trustees, Messrs. Lee
and Clark, both of whom are expected to arrive here Friday evening.
Mr. Hart a prominent stockholder, is also expected. The notice of
the sale is printed in full on the seventh page of this issue. The
bondholders are likely to buy in the property.
In this connection, we may suggest to the
purchasers, why not make an effort to dispose of this splendid
property to the government for an armor plate factory? The
government proposes to establish such a plant. This property would
suit. The location is the very best. No better place could be
selected for a ship armor establishment. The combination of coal and
ore is cheap here. We are on railroad and river transportation
direct to the ocean. We have the best metal in the world for cannon.
Ohio should be favored with his plant, and Ironton is the spot. The
people of this city will second every effort of the purchasers in
securing the plant here.

Ironton Register, July 13, 1899 - Etna Furnace is now in
good working order, since getting their water from the City Water
Works. They have plenty of steam and are burning but little coal.
Are expecting to have natural gas soon to use when necessary. They
are at present making 240 tons daily of fine Bessemer iron. They
will begin next week to put in four new boilers.

LITTLE ETNA

Lawrence County, Ohio
Built:
By:

Ironton Register, April 21, 1887 - The glory of "Little
Etna" as a furnace, has departed. Her machinery and buildings have
all been removed, and only the stack and abutting masonry, which
stand amid drifts of ore-dust and cinder deposit, are left to mark
the site of an ancient and profitable concern. They will blacken
with age, and in their widening crevices, tufts of grass and moss
may find lodgement ere they feel again the heat of furnace fires.
But the business of the furnace grounds is still kept up. 250 men
are employed there among the hills getting out ore and lime for
Alice furnace, so the office and store, the main center of these
operations, are not foresaken, but very active.
One is reminded as he approaches the company's office from the
railroad, of the wood cut pictures of a village street found in
old-time story books. The office is a very old brick structure with
small windows and a steep roof, whose long slopes quite overbalance
the height of the sidewalks. Its big gable end rises prominently in
the picture. Just beyond the office the higher walls of the store
house appear, and beyond these again, the Manger's residence, almost
hidden from view. This row of buildings occupies a slight eminence
in the narrow valley, over which the road runs from our point of
observation, descending again on the other side as it passes the
dismantled furnace near by. A well trodden path leads up to the
corner of the office, where begins a stone pavement rudely
constructed of angular and uneven blocks of flagging long ago. It
has worn smooth under the pressure of many feet. In the forks of a
grand old tree near the corner, there is a bell whose notes proclaim
at intervals the working hours of the day.
When the reporter made these observations, the weather was most
propitious. The earth was clean from the washings of a recent rain.
The sun shone brightly through cloudless skies, and a delightful
breeze made manifest its bracing influence. Under these lovely
conditions he took a seat beside the Etna manager, George Cox, and
accompanied him on his daily ride over to Vesuvius furnace.
The Etna Iron Works Co. owns 16,000 acres of land around Etna
and Vesuvius furnaces, and a short time ago, an expert geologist was
sent out to determine how much of the tract was ore land. He made an
estimate showing there were six or seven thousand acres. The ore
will average at least 12 inches thick, and at that thickness a
square yard produces a ton. The Etna company mines about 30,000 tons
a year. Following the calculation based on these estimates they only
use a little more than 5 acres per annum, and have enough ore to
last, at the present rate of consumption, over a thousand years.

ETNA IRON WORKS

Ironton
Register April 4, 1878 - ETNA WORKS AFFAIRS - JOHN H. MOULTON,
APPOINTED ASSIGNEE. Last week, when we went to press, the Etna
Creditors' meeting was in session, but we stated the probability
that no understanding would be reached. The committee which waited
upon the Directors returned with a proposition to settle at 40
percent, payable 2,3,4,5, and 6 years, and no interest in the first
year. That proposition was rejected by a close vote. A resolution
was passed recommending that the company make an assignment. A
committee was also appointed to view the assets of the company and
estimate their value. Said committee are John Means, G. N. Gray and
George Clarke. The meeting lasted from ten o'clock in the morning
until nearly dark, excepting the noon hour. Of the $350,000
unsecured creditors, about $224,000 were represented. Those present
seemed desirous of a agreeing with the company upon some settlement,
but there was a variety of views as to the valuation of the real
estate, and this prevented. When the meeting was over, a majority of
the indebtedness represented at the meeting manifested a willingness
to accept the 40 per cent proposition.

The following circular has been issued by the Directors:

OFFICE OF THE ETNA IRON WORKS, }
IRONTON, O., MARCH 27, 1878 } We the
Directors of the Etna Iron Works, beg to submit the following
terms and conditions as a basis for a compromise and settlement
with all of our unsecured creditors; reserving, however, the right
to prefer and pay in full all that may found due our employees to
this date: To pay forty cents on a dollar, payable in two,
three, four, five and six years from this date, with interest at
the rate of six per cent per annum after one year; secured by a
Second Mortgage upon all the Real Estate owned by the Etna Iron
Works in Lawrence County, State of Ohio, amounting to some sixteen
thousand five hundred acres, with all improvements thereon. Such
Mortgage to be made to a Trustee, who shall be selected by a
majority of Creditors in interest, and for a sufficient amount to
cover all of said compromised claims and interest to date of
maturity. A majority of the
indebtedness represented at a meeting of Creditors held March 27,
1878, expressed a willingness to accept the above proposition.
You will be waited upon in a few days by a representative of
the Company.

GEO. K.
HOSFORD, SEC'Y.

In
compliance with the resolution by the Creditors recommending an
assignment, the board elected John H. Moulton as Assignee, who
accepts the trust and proceeds to work. The appointment is a good
one. Mr. Moulton is a bookkeeper, a practical man and a person
fully qualified in every way for the task assigned him.

Ironton
Register, September 18, 1890 - The Etna Iron Works property will
soon be offered at public sale. This will be done on an agreement
between the bondholders and creditors, and, of course, the property
will be bought in. But it is hardly probable that the works will
start up for some time.

GRANT

Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1869
By: W. D. KELLY & SONS

In 1869 W. D. Kelly built Grant Furnace in Ironton, operated
under the firm name of W. D. Kelly & Sons and operated for some
years.

I. R. March 4, 1869 - GRANT FURNACE - Today Gen. Grant takes his
seat. Today Messrs. Kelly & Sons have named their new Furnace, about
which there has been so much talk of late. They have not yet decided
as to the exact location, as the Council will not act on their
petition till this evening. But should the City council not vacate
the streets and alleys prayed for, they will build between Fourth
and Fifth-sts., just above Mr. Kelly's residence. They have about
eighty laborers employed chopping wood, getting out the timber and
stone, digging ore, &c., and intend to commence work on the
foundation of the stack next week, if the weather is favorable. They
expect to make cold blast charcoal iron. The firm name will be W. D.
KELLY & SONS, Grant Furnace, Ironton, Ohio.

HAMILTON

Coke Pig Iron was its principal business. Eugene B. Willard
worked for this company.

Ironton Register, January 14, 1886 - Hamilton Furnace, at
Hanging Rock, will blow sometime in March. Ironton Register,
January 28, 1886 - Mr. Crowther is here and will blow Hamilton
Furnace, which will start up shortly. He is an efficient man at a
furnace.

I. R. Aug. 7, 1890 - Hanging Rock - The repairing of Hamilton
Furnace is progressing as fast as possible. All the changes are
being done under the instructions of E. C. Crowther, who has
successfully blowed the furnace from her first starting. He is
making sever changes which will increase the capacity of the furnace
and save fuel. One of the most notable changes is the large bosh
jacket, 20 feet across at the top and 15 1/2 at the bottom. Mr.
Crowther here remarked that this jack was a fine job; that it fit so
perfect in every respect and showed marks of good workmanship.
Lambert Bros. are furnishing about one half of the new work.

James Wileman & Son are doing the brick work. The Co. expect to
be read about the 15th of September. They have quite a large pile of
lake ore on hand, likely 6000 tons, and from 12000 to 15000 tons of
native ore and increasing the pile every day. John H. Fisher is the
boss blacksmith. The men engaged here are all good fellows.

- In 1833
John Campbell was employed in building the old Hanging Rock Iron
Forge, and in the same year, he, with Andrew Ellison, built Lawrence
Furnace for J. Riggs & Co., and took stock in it.

HANGING ROCK FOUNDRY

Ironton
Register, November 12, 1885 - This well known foundry began work
under the new company last Monday, and made their first cast,
Tuesday afternoon. Everything worked in good old style, and the
cupola was tapped and running twelve minutes after the blast was put
on. The molders had to use green sand and yet the casting was
successful and the plates came out smooth and perfect. The foundry
begins with ten molders and four boys and the force will gradually
increase. There is room for 80 moulders. The foundry buildings cover
a big space, affording room for all branches of the business. The
machinery is in good order. The Plymouth, B. Estate, Great Western
and other noted makes of stoves will be made there. The first melt
was made from Meta iron, which worked perfectly.
Chas. Peters is Supt. And Business Manager, Henry
Henderson is foreman; Wm. Halley is Engineer and Cupola tender.
Under the new company, Capt. Ben Rodgers caught the first ladle of
iron and his son Frank poured the first ladle. The new company stars
out under many favorable auspices. Besides good machinery and
patterns, they will have a force of excellent moulders.

Ironton Register, October 28, 1852 - Hecla Furnace - This
valuable Furnace, belonging to the estate of the late Henry Blake
was sold at Private Sale, a few days ago to John Campbell, C.
Briggs, and E. H. Griswold - strong company, which will take
possession of the furnace on January 1, 1853.

Ironton Register, January 30, 1879 - Hecla Furnace shipped
100 tons of iron the past week; Lawrence shipped 50 tons. We
understand there is no cold blast iron in this region except a small
lot held by Buckhorn and Hecla.

Ironton Register, September 3, 1885 - (under Iron News) -
Hecla will start in blast next week. She will make 2000 tons the
coming blast.

Ironton Register, January 28, 1886 - Hecla Furnace will
blow out the 6th of February.

Ironton Register, July 10, 1902 - Hecla Furnace, which has
been idle for about 2 years and which was recently leased by the
newly organized Hecla Charcoal Iron Company, was put in blast
Monday. Mrs. Austin Kelly, daughter of the Manager, Col. E. J. Bird,
Jr., having the honor of lighting the fires for what promises to be
a long run. The furnace is well stocked and it is expected that the
output will be from 25 to 30 tons daily.

IRON AND STEEL FURNACE

Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1871
By:

Ironton Register, September 23, 1897 - Iron & Steel
Furnace Sold - Last Saturday, Sheriff Ward sold the Iron & Steel
furnace to Col. H. A. Marting for $2000. The appraisement was $3000.
Sale was on a suit by the county for about $1400 taxes. The Iron &
Steel Furnace was built in 1871 and cost over $100,000. Shortly
after it was completed there was a slump in the iron business and so
the furnace was never a money making enterprise. But the price of
$2000, is a terrible descent from the original cost of over
$100,000. This is because, the condition of the furnace makes it
worth little over the cost of scrap. The boilers are burnt out. The
ovens out of date. The engines, too small. All the brass mountings
have been carried off. The furnace lining is worn out. It would cost
almost the price of a new furnace to get it in condition to run.
The purchaser will dismantle the furnace and use
the ground, about an acre, in connection with the Eagle Mill. But he
will not be able to carry out this purpose, for two years, as the
former owners have had that time to redeem the property, by paying a
penalty of 25 per cent.

IRONTON

Lawrence County, Ohio
Built: 1875
By: IRON & STEEL CO.

Ironton Register, September 3, 1885 - (under Iron News) -
The Ironton furnace which has been blowing on four tuyeres
heretofore, will today add three more, making seven after this.

Ironton Register, January 14, 1886 - Mr. Bird, of the
Ironton Furnace, says he is using one-fourth Lawrence Furnace coal,
one-fourth Jackson and one-half coke. He thinks he will be able to
work up the native coal to one-half his fuel, and make splendid
iron.

LAWRENCE previously known as "CRANE'S NEST"

In 1833, John Campbell and Andrew Ellison built Lawrence Furnace
for J. Riggs & Co.

Ironton Register, January 17, 1878 - IMPORTANT LAND SALE -
Negotiations are pending between Mr. John Peters and the Belfont
Iron Works for the purchase, by the latter, of 1000 acres of mineral
lands, near the end of the Iron Railroad. The terms agreed upon are
$30 per acre or $30,000 for the entire tract, and the only thing in
the way now is the accomplishment of a complete transfer, the
affairs of Lawrence Furnace Company being somewhat entangled in
Trustees and Bondholders. If, however, this sale could be
consummated, it would be of much interest to the community, for it
would bring to the market an increased array of our fine natural
resources. Lawrence Furnace property embraces more land than is
necessary for one furnace, and the excess should be brought into
course of development.

Ironton Register, June 4, 1857 - The Ironton Rolling Mill
"fired" again last Monday, after having been stopped a month on
account of the "strike;" the Lawrence Mill, it will be recollected,
went into operation last week. Ironton Register, October 27, 1887 -
The funeral of Peter Clay, who died from injuries received at the
Lawrence Mill, will take place at Wesley Chapel, on Thursday morning
at 10 o'clock. All invited. The employees of Lawrence Iron Works
will attend in body. Ironton Register, February 28, 1878 - The
Lawrence Mill is in full operation. The forge department will
probably be idle next week, on account of the accumulation of muck
bar. The mill shipped about 200 tons to St. Louis by the Means, last
week, and another 100 tons to the same place, Monday, on the
steamer, Alice.

Ironton Register, January 30, 1879 - The Lawrence Mill is
idle, but starts again next Monday.

Ironton Register, March 8, 1894 - (from obituary of
Cambridge Culbertson) . . . He (Cambridge) was one of the pioneer
residents of this region, having first come to this county when his
father, John Culbertson, bought the Lawrence Furnace property from
Andrew Ellison's heirs, and moved there from Steam Furnace, Ky. The
elder Mr. Culbertson operated the furnace and accumulated
considerable wealth, and Cambridge was associated with him. Later,
the deceased, became interested in Junior Furnace, and in furnace
property in Tennessee. Cambridge was married to Miss Emily Rankin,
who with two sons and two daughters, survive him.

Ironton Register, June 20, 1895 - John Peters, Sr., who
though over 80 years old is still actively engaged in the management
of Lawrence Furnace. . . John Peters bought individually the
Lawrence Furnace from Culbertson, Means & Co. This is an old
furnace, built in 1834, and when a young man, John Peters, had been
employed as a laborer in it. It is very valuable property, and among
the most desirable of its kind in Southern Ohio, and is still owned
and controlled entirely by his family.

Semi-Weekly Irontonian, November 8, 1907 - John Campbell
stated that his most trying experience was the first night in the
woods at "Crane's Nest," or Lawrence Furnace. A cabin or shelter
protected from the weather, but there was no bedding, and he had
only a stove pipe buried in the earth for a pillow.

John Peters, Sr. worked at Mount Vernon Furnace from 1835-1840.
He then joined J. O. Willard and leased Buckhorn Furnace. John
Campbell was manager of Mt. Vernon Furnace in 1835.

Ironton Register, March 3, 1887 - Mrs. C. A. Magee, of Mt.
Vernon furnace, is very sick. Her husband had to suspend school on
account of her illness.

Ironton Register, April 6, 1899 - (taken from obituary of
Mrs. Katherine Scott) . . . About 1848, Robert Scott, came to this
county, and was for years a prominent iron man. He was manager at
Mt. Vernon for ten or fifteen years, in those early days of the iron
business when furnace life was a social affair as well as iron
making enterprise.

Ironton Register, February 15, 1866 - CAMPBELL, ELLISON &
CO. - The name of the old firm, Campbell, Ellison & Co., has changed
to Campbell & Co. This is in consequence of the decease of Wm.
Ellison. Mt. Vernon Furnace, and the Ironton Foundry are the
principal establishments of the firm.

Ironton Register, November 19, 1885 - (Iron News) Col.
Geo. N. Gray has rented Mt. Vernon furnace and has gone right to
work getting ready for a blast, which will not begin before next
Spring. The Colonel went out last Monday to give out the wood
chopping. The contract provides for such timber as will give him a
two load job. He has nothing to do with the mining of the ore, as he
gets his ore at a stipulated rate from the Campbell Iron Co., a
corporation recently organized for mining and selling ore and lime
from Mt. Vernon lands. Neither does he run the store. Col. Gray is
an energetic and judicious furnaceman, and will certainly make a
success out of his new venture.

Semi-Weekly Irontonian, November 8, 1907 - Andrew B.
Ellison, son of John, together with Robert Hamilton and John
Campbell and others were the subscribers to the building of Mt.
Vernon Fce. In 1833. Mr. John Campbell was employed by J. Riggs &
Co., in keeping books and helping oversee the building of the
Hanging Rock Forge, and Lawrence Furnace, for a period of 1 year and
10 months, and his salary made part of a loan of $1500 he made that
company for his expenses were few in the woods, and he had something
less than $800 when he came to Hanging Rock in 1833. His
subscription to build Mt. Vernon was by borrowing, which had to be
paid in 1835 and later. For this purpose he arranged to procure
funds from his father and his aunt, Fedilia Hopkins, of Ripley, O.,
upon his home visit in January 1835, and which he might in the
summer of 1833, have procured from his two uncles, Jos. N. Campbell,
Judge of Common Pleas of Ripley, or John W. Campbell, Federal Judge
of Columbus, both of whom died of Cholera that year. . . . Messrs.
Ellison and Hamilton, who invited Mr. Campbell to Hanging Rock in
1833, and gave him early employment til 1835, joined him in
subscribing for the erection of Mt. Vernon in 1833, of which they
made him Manager in 1835; they also accepted in 1837 as the husband
of a young lady who was the cousin of one and the niece of the
other, and these were the only occupations in which Mr. Campbell
ever engaged, clerking, Superintendent and Manager.

OAK RIDGE

Ironton Register, February 19, 1857 - Oak Ridge Furnace -
which will probably commence its first blast in May next, is the
14th furnace built in Lawrence county.

Ironton Register, Thursday, February 19, 1857 - MESSRS.
STIMSON & PARKER: A few days ago I made a visit to Oak Ridge
Furnace, in company with my friend Nathan Booth, an eminent founder
from Pennsylvania. On our arrival we were fortunate in meeting
Professor Mather, by whom we were very kindly entertained. We
proceeded to examine the Furnace stack. We were pleasantly surprised
at its noble and proportionate structure, this complete workmanship
on which reflects great credit on the mechanical abilities of the
builder, Mr. Allison of Ironton. In fact, we pronounce it the best
furnace stack we have seen in this region of the country. Nothing
seems wanting to its perfect completion, but a hearth and inwall of
Ashland firebrick of the Stoll & Rose brand.
From the furnace we proceeded to visit the "SEVEN FEET VEIN OF
COAL," lying above the top of the furnace, thus rendering its
transportation to the same easy and cheap; and, to our entire
satisfaction, we found the full seven feet of the clear grit of
coal. Besides this, there are five other veins of the same material,
varying from 2 to 5 ft. in thickness, all of an excellent quality.
As to the ores, our humble descriptive abilities are utterly
inadequate to do them justice. The various veins of limestone ores,
with a two fee vein of block ore, all of an excellent quality,
bespeak for Oak Ridge a destiny , second, not seven to the world
famed Dowlele (or Dowlala) Iron Works of South Wales, or the
Colderbank Iron Works of Scotland, in its ample, and almost
inexhaustible natural resources for the manufacture of an unlimited
amount of Iron of the best quality.
Should Professor Mather be as successful in the selection of
his men, and carrying his works into operation, as he has been in
the selection of the location, he will have no cause to regret
embarking into the manufacture of Ironton.
Having spent the greater portion of the day examining a portion
of the above extensive and very rich mineral property and the
evening, in listening to highly interesting accounts of some of Mr.
Mather's professional explorations, &c., &c., we left next morning
highly pleased with our visit, and fully satisfied of the truth of
what I have above stated. JOHN J. VINTON.

Ironton Register, August 13, 1857 - Oak Ridge Furnace
commenced its first blast, last week, letting out iron for the first
time on Saturday forenoon. The character of the metal was such as to
give full satisfaction to all parties interested; and good judges
not interested say it was better than is usual at the first run. It
is hot blast, charcoal iron, but it is understood that the second
blast will be made with stone coal. Oak Ridge is one of the very
best built Furnaces in this Iron Region.

Ironton Register, May 13, 1858 - Oak Ridge Furnace was to
go into blast on Monday of this week (its second blast,) with a
first rate stock on its bank. - We believe it is now settled by
unmistakable authority that there is "a plenty" of good ore - block
ore - near the Furnace, easily obtained; and no one ever doubted its
abundance of "timber" and its excellent veins of superior stone
coal. The Furnace is thoroughly built, one of the very best, and
prudently managed - why will it not succeed handsomely? John
Thomspon, the Founder, a faithful man, got up this stock, and if the
Furnace does not do well it will not be his fault, we feel quite
certain. We trust Col. Mather will soon return to Oak Ridge, his
other business accomplished, so that he can carry out to success his
favorite enterprise.

OLD MILL

OLIVE

1845 - John Peters, Sr. joined John Campbell, Madison Cole,
William Clements, and J. L. Thompson in erecting Olive Furnace. Mr.
Peters became superintendent. John Peters was active manager of
Olive Furnace for about six years. . . . John Peters was also one of
the original owners of the Olive Foundry and Machine Shops, now
operated by Lambert Brothers.

Ironton Register, April 20, 1899 - (under heading styled
Washington Furnace . . .) The McGugin Co. of Olive Fce., have made
rapid progress in getting ready for a blast and they are now ready
to join the McKinley procession.

Ironton Register, July 30, 1885 - (Country Notes) - Olive
is banked up now repairing the hot blast, but will be ready to blow
in again in a few days. The furnace, this year, so far, has made
about 18 tons a day. Mr. W. N. McGugin said that he had never known
Olive to work better or more regularly than she has this Summer. At
present, the men are at work in the hay harvest. The Company has a
large acreage of meadows, which Mr. M. told us will make about a
half crop this year. They weigh all the hay put it into the barns,
and by comparing the weights of this year and last, they can
determine accurately the relationship of the two crops.
W. H. McGugin has the finest two horse teams we
have seen anywhere in the county. They are iron gray mares, well
matched, and weigh about 1700 pounds each. Mr. M. has some colts
that bid fair to make even finer animals than these.
Mr. H. G. Hopkins has charge of the books here,
and Charlie Egerton is in the store. Charlie is also the P. M. and
Station Agent for the Ironton & Dayton railway. He walks from the
furnace over to the station twice a day with his mail bag, a
distance of nearly half a mile. Charlie says he enjoys the walk;
that it affords him good recreation.
Mr. Hopkins has but one Jersey cow now, but is
still an admirer of the stock.
The Commissioners are making a road through
Washington township this Summer. This township has been slighted in
the item of roads. All the roads in the township or nearly so, were
made by the furnace companies and kept up by them.
W. N. McGugin told us that John Gard, who was so
long a teamster at Olive, now lives in Hamden, and that he has lost
his sight - is totally blind - but is in comfortable circumstances.

Ironton Register, July 13, 1899 - The Buckhorn Furnace,
the property of McGugin & Co., Olive Furnace Post Office, Ohio, will
probably be started in the near future. It is some time since the
stack was operated. It is 38x10 and has a capacity of 8,000 tons
annually. The Olive Furnace of the same firm is in operation and
will run regularly. American Manufacturer.

Morning Irontonian - November 19, 1915 - Old Olive Furnace
Sold - Salle Bros. have bought of M. E. Beman, receiver for the
Olive Furnace the old furnace and will begin in a few days to
dismantle it for scrap iron.